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Loo. Despite being a very British word for toilet, ‘loo’ is actually derived from the French phrase ‘guardez l’eau’, which means ‘watch out for the water’. The British soon adopted this phrase, but as with any phrase it changed once it crossed the border to become ‘gardy-loo’.
Where did the term loo come from?
The word comes from nautical terminology, loo being an old-fashioned word for lee. The standard methinks it comes from the nautical pronunciation (in British English) of leeward is looward. Early ships were not fitted with toilets but the crew would urinate over the side of the vessel.
Why is a loo called a John?
Where does the name “the john” come from? We’ll get the basic etymology out of the way: “John” as slang for toilet probably derived from “jakes” or “jacks,” medieval English terms for what was then a small, smelly loo inside the house if you were very fancy and outside the house if you were slightly less so.
Do people still say loo?
You mean people in Britain, yes we do call it the Loo without using other rude words. The “loo” is not the room, it is specifically the device to defecate into.
Should you say toilet or loo?
Lavatory or the slightly twee ‘loo’ are always acceptable and used by those from stronger social backgrounds, or those who ‘get it’. ‘Toilet’ is both down-market but also incorrect. Historically, a toilette was a person’s make-up (hence ‘toiletries bag’, ‘eau de toilette’, etc).
Why is a toilet called a dunny?
The dunny was originally any outside toilet. In cities and towns the pan-type dunny was emptied by the dunny man, who came round regularly with his dunny cart. Dunny can now be used for any toilet. The word comes from British dialect dunnekin meaning an ‘earth closet, (outside) privy’ from dung + ken ‘house’.
What is a toilet called in Australia?
dunny – a toilet, the appliance or the room – especially one in a separate outside building. This word has the distinction of being the only word for a toilet which is not a euphemism of some kind. It is from the old English dunnykin: a container for dung. However Australians use the term toilet more often than dunny.
What is slang for toilet?
loo (British, informal) bog (slang) I’m reading it on the bog. gents or ladies. can (US, Canadian, slang).
Why is toilet offensive?
The word toilet is not actually considered vulgar in America. It is considered an out-of-date word. The Americans prefer to say ‘rest room’.
Is loo rude?
“Loo” is not at all rude in British English; it’s not even particularly informal. In American English, “toilet” refers nearly always to the piece of furniture and not the room that contains it.
Is it rude to say loo?
Toilet. It’s a harsh word that was adapted from the French toilette which means your appearance, hence toiletries bag. Lavatory or loo is much more acceptable.
Is dunny a rude word in Australia?
The word “Dunny” is Australian slang for toilet or outhouse. Technically “Dunny” isn’t a rude word but not many people on average say the word dunny.
What does cheeky mean in British slang?
Cheeky: To be cheeky is to be flippant or somewhat of a smart aleck. Considering British humor, I’d say most people here are a bit cheeky. It’s your turn for rebuttal, Britain. Drop a clanger: This is the British version of putting one’s foot in one’s mouth but it sure sounds sillier.
What is Arvo in Australian?
Arvo or S’arvo: means afternoon or this afternoon. “Meet you there this arvo!” Bloody oath: means of course.
What do they call a toilet in England?
Loo. Despite being a very British word for toilet, ‘loo’ is actually derived from the French phrase ‘guardez l’eau’, which means ‘watch out for the water’.
What is a Dutch toilet?
Arguably the most alarming feature of a Water Closet is the infamous Dutch toilet bowl. Dutch engineers have designed the bowl itself to contain a plateau set well above the normal water level. To say the least, one must be very comfortable with themselves and all their excrements on the display shelf.
What do they call the bathroom in Ireland?
In Ireland, ‘the jacks’ means ‘toilet’, most commonly used to refer to public bathrooms. Every Irish person knowns what this term means, but few know why they use it – indeed it’s difficult to find a solid explanation. Some believe it to be derived from the Tudor English term ‘jakes’, first used in the 16th century.
What is a polite way to say poop?
The correct medical terms are faeces (feces in the US), or stool(s). Stool(s) tends to be the term used by doctors. The medical term for going to the toilet (bathroom) is to defaecate/defecate (same thing, just a variation in spelling) or defecating, or less formally, “opening your bowels”.
What is a polite way to say pee?
piss. impolite to get rid of waste liquid from your body. A more polite word is pee or wee. The formal word is urinate.
Do British people say pee?
Moreover, Brits have an even greater number of words to describe the act of urinating, including the following: having a slash; breaking the seal; spending a penny; having a wee; draining the lizard; having a piddle; having a tinkle; pointing the pink pistol at the porcelain firing range; and watering the flowers.
Is it rude to say toilet in America?
But yes, in parts of the United States it is going to be considered a bit rude and also odd to say “toilet.” We Americans tend to adopt diffuse euphemisms for those shameful bodily functions that are named directly only by physicians, comedians, and angry people.
